Elastic-fluid turbine



G. E. ROBB.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. 1920.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

\nventorw I George ERobb, b9 W M 4 a. m M. L,

l-lisAtior-neg.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. ROBB, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

Application filed April 14,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. ROBE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates toelastic fluid turbines, and particularlyto turbines of the type wherein the turbine shell or casing is dividedinto stages by diaphragms, which diaphragms contain partitions formingnozzle passages for directing elastic fluid against the buckets of aturbine wheel. In such turbines the shell is split to form upper andlower halves and the diaphragms are formed in corresponding halves andfit into the halves of the shell between the bucket wheels. When theturbine is assembled, the halves of each diaphragm meet in the centralhorizontal plane of the turbine shell and are supported and centered inthe shell by means of crushing pins or other suitable means.

In assembling a turbine of this character, it is desirable to firstassemble the upper halves of the diaphragms in the upper half of theshell or casing prior to placing it in position in the lower half andthis requires the provisions of a holding or supporting means for theupper halves of the diaphragms to keep them in place therein while theupper half of the shell is being placed on the lower half. Such holdingor supporting means must be of such character that after the upper halfof the casing with the diaphragm halves therein is assembled on thelower half, the holding means will not interfere with the correctpositioning of the diaphragm and its expansion and contraction undertemperature changes. Such a holding or supporting means for the upperhalf of the diaphragm is desirable also so that when the turbine isdismantled the upper halves of the diaphragms may be lifted off with thetop half of the turbine casing.

More particularly, the object of my invention is to provide an improvedarrangement for supporting the upper halves of the diaphragms of aturbine in the upper half of the shell, and for a consideration of whatI believe to be novel and my invention, at

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920. 1920. Serial No. 373,936.

tention is directed to the accompanying descrlption and the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing Figure l is a transverse sectaonal view through thecasing of a turbine showing a diaphragm in side elevation andillustrating my improved supporting means; Fig. 2 is a horizontal,sectional View of a fragment of a turbine, and Fig. 3 is a section takenon line 3-3, Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. 1

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates the lower half of a turbine shellor casing and 6 the upper half, the two halves being pro vided withflanges 7 and S which are fastened together by bolts 9. 10 indicates theturbine shaft on which are mounted bucket wheels 11, as is wellunderstood. In the turbine casing between wheels 11 are diaphragmscomprising upper and lower halves 12 and 13 in which are partitionplates 14 forming nozzles for directing elastic fluid against thebuckets of the bucket wheels. In the present instance the diaphragm isshown as bein centered and supported in the turbine she l by means ofcrushing pins 15, although any suitable arrangement may be used for thispurpose. The foregoing may be taken as typical of a turbine strucfutreof the type to which my invention rea es.

Now, according to my invention, I provide recesses 16 in the flat edgeof the upper half 12 of the diaphragm at what may be termed the twocorners of such half, and in the adjacent portion of the upper half 6 ofthe casing provide projections 17 which extend into recesses 16 in aposition to be engaged by the bottom of recesses 16. Recesses 16 may bemade by cutting a slot of suitable depth at each corner of the diaphragmhalf, which slot may extend from one side face of the diaphragm, asshown in Fig. 2, to a point short of the other side face. Projections 17may be in the form of keys which are driven into slots 18 in the innerface of the turbine shell. Preferably I employ keys of the semi-circu1arshape shown as they are easy to insert and a curved slot to receive themis easily made. Also they provide a broad flat surface for engagementwith the upper half of the diaphragm. To prevent keys 17 from coming outshould they work loose, I pro vide pins 19 which are threaded into thebottom of recess 16 and stand in front of keys 17.

7 upper half 6 of the turbine shell is inverted,

the diaphragm halves 12 placed therein and keys 17 and pins 19 put intoposition. Now, when the upper half 6 of the shell is turned over, thediaphragm halves will'drop down against projections 17 and thus be heldin such upper half while it is lowered into position on the lower half5. When positioned,

the upper half of the diaphragm engages the lower half and is raisedaway from projections 17. In dismantling the machine, when the upperhalf of the turbine shell is lifted, the upper halves of the diaphragmwill engage projections 17 and be lifted along with the shell.

By my improved arrangementI provide a fastening means for the upperhalves of turbine diaphragms which is simple in structure,'easy to putinto place and remove, and by the use of which there is no danger of thefastening means working out and hence failing to function when needed.This latter is a most important consideration, for should a heavydiaphragm half fall from the upper half of the casing while beingassembled or removed, serious damage might result notonly to the machinebut to any workman standing near. It is furthermore to be noted that theimproved fastening is putinto place without making holes throughrepresent the best embodiment thereof, but

I desire to have it understood that the ap- V paratus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention may be-carried out by other means. 7

Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In an elastic fluid turbine comprising a casing and a diaphragm madein upper and lower halves, means for supporting the upper half of thediaphragm in the upper half of the casing comprising members whichproject from the inner wall of said upper half of the casing adjacent-its open side, the corners of said diaphragm half having recessesto receive said members, the arrange ment being such that when theturbine is assembled, said members stand in spaced relation to the wallsof said recesses, and pins in said diaphragm half which stand in frontof said members to prevent their coming out.

2. In an elastic fluid turbine, a casing half having slots in itsinnersurface adj acent'its open side,'keys in said slots which projectinwardly beyond the surface of said casing half, a diaphragm half insaid casing half provided with slots into which said keys project, andmeans in said last named slots which stand in front of said keys toprevent their coming out.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day ofApril,1920.

GEORGE EaRO BB.

